Back to NFM Home Stories2026 Trends
Prepared by Amber Bradshaw | Published on December 30, 2025
As we move into 2026 with renewed clarity about our values and priorities, the home continues to play an increasingly emotional role in our lives. The 2026 home environment is shaped by two core consumer impulses: The need for grounding and refuge, and the desire for vibrancy and escape, which drives four major design trends this year — each shaped by lifestyle aspirations and emerging cultural influences. Supporting these dominant themes are two supplemental microtrends that add expressive flair to textiles, décor, and accent pieces.
Together, these six trends paint a holistic picture of how people want to live now: More intentionally, more comfortably, and with greater personal meaning.
Trend 1: Authentic Living
A grounded return to rural values, craftsmanship, and earthy self-sufficiency.
Authentic Living evolves from 2025’s Organic Origin and digs deeper into the emotional and tactile qualities of the earthy lifestyle. As digital saturation intensifies, some people crave a physical environment anchored in realness — materials with soul, objects shaped by hand, and pieces that feel inherently connected to the natural world.
A revival of rural values underpins the trend. Homesteading-inspired hobbies — preserving, fermenting, gardening, crafting — signal a broader cultural shift toward thoughtful self-sufficiency and the comforting rituals of intentional living. This mindset translates directly into home furnishings made to last, cherished for their imperfections, and treasured for their authenticity.
Key Design Elements
- Natural fibers (linen, jute, hemp)
- Unrefined, raw woods
- Rounded, organic shapes
- Richly textured textiles
- Primitive & vintage influences
- Handmade details
- Imperfect surfaces
- Natural wear & patina
- Earth-tone palette
In the Home
Expect to see simple wooden tables with a handmade aesthetic, earthy textiles, hand-thrown ceramics, woven lighting, and pared-down lounge seating that invites slow living and sensory connection.
Trend 2: Timeless Heritage
A luxurious, historically rooted aesthetic elevated for modern living.
Growing from 2025’s Provincial Charm, Timeless Heritage brings a renewed appreciation for decorative history, heirloom quality, and European-inspired luxury. It offers a storied, cultivated aesthetic — one that blends old-world elegance with the comfort and functionality required in contemporary homes.
This trend signals a cultural desire for permanence and beauty amid rapid change. Baroque details reemerge, but with moderation and refinement, balancing opulence with approachable everyday livability. Biophilic prints, honeyed woods, and elegant lines add warmth, while decadent textiles and brass accents create a sense of curated luxury.
Key Design Elements
- Baroque details
- Biophilic botanical prints
- Decadent textiles (velvet, silk blends, Jacquard)
- Warm brass accents
- Honeyed wood tones
- Elegant, tailored lines
- Mottled stone surfaces
- Piping, fringe, and couture details
- Intricate carving
- Florals & Art Deco influences
In the Home
Think refined profiles, layered stone, botanical wallpapers, sculpted cabinetry, and higher-end finishes that feel timeless, established, and deeply intentional.
Trend 3: Resort Tropics
A sun-drenched, color-forward escape inspired by global travel and luxury resorts.
Resort Tropics evolves from Inspiration Abroad but shifts toward sophistication and vibrant modern glam. Influenced heavily by “The White Lotus effect,” people within the Destination lifestyle category seek interiors that emulate the lush, indulgent feeling of vacation — high color, rich texture, and elevated global influence.
Here, craftsmanship remains important, but folkloric or rustic motifs fade in favor of sleek, transportive luxury. Tropical botanicals, bold color pairings, and resort-inspired materials bring a sense of escapism to everyday spaces.
Key Design Elements
- Artisanal craftsmanship
- Global influences presented with refinement
- Luxurious resort aesthetics
- Bold, saturated color schemes
- Tropical foliage motifs
- Woven caning details
- Tropical fruit motifs
- Folkloric tiles (modernized)
- High-contrast color combinations
In the Home
Expect elegant furniture, breezy woven details, jewel-toned accents, tropical wallpapers, globally inspired tiles, and playful-yet-elevated décor rooted in resort luxury.
Trend 4: Refined Harmony
A warm, tranquil expression of intentional living and elevated simplicity.
Refined Harmony grows from 2025’s Refined Lines and reflects the rise of slow design, minimalism with warmth, and intentional living. In times of uncertainty, people seek comfort, clarity, and sanctuary-like spaces. That desire leads to warmer neutrals, soft textures, and materials that evoke serenity.
This trend is minimalism that is softened — less rigid, more empathetic, and deeply rooted in quality. It embraces clean lines but with gentler silhouettes and tactile depth, creating a peaceful, wellness-inspired atmosphere.
Key Design Elements
- Warm neutral palette
- Less-is-more aesthetic
- Elevated natural materials (matte leather, marble, travertine)
- Linear shapes
- Tonal layering of textures
- Simple, soothing silhouettes
- Quality over quantity
- Elegant, clean lines
In the Home
Look for matte stone tables, structured-yet-soft upholstery, monochromatic rooms with textural depth, and clutter-free layouts that promote calm and balance.
Supplemental Trend A: Vintage Glamour
A decadent, high-shine return to old Hollywood opulence.
Vintage Glamour offers a bold counterbalance to 2026’s more naturalistic trends. This microtrend is indulgent, atmospheric, and unapologetically dramatic — ideal for décor, statement pieces, accent furniture, and textiles that add cinematic flair.
Key Design Elements
- Metallic accents
- Luxe animal prints
- Ornate moldings
- Plush textiles
- Faux-fur & velvet
- High-shine finishes
- Oversized marble
- Metal inlays
- Art Deco motifs
This is luxury as emotional uplift — a glamorous escape rooted in nostalgia and sparkle.
Supplemental Trend B: Eclectic Aesthetic
A joyful, personality-driven celebration of individuality and creative freedom.
Eclectic Aesthetic is the year’s most playful microtrend. It embraces bold color, unexpected pattern mixing, quirky silhouettes, and design that prioritizes individuality over cohesion. It’s perfect for decorative accents, textiles, and smaller furniture pieces that bring energy and delight to a space.
Key Design Elements
- High-contrast color pairings
- Bold pattern-mixing
- Hand-drawn & imperfect details
- Eccentric, whimsical prints
- Bold color terrazzo
- Embracing the odd and unconventional
- Retro silhouettes
- One-of-a-kind, custom-feeling pieces
This trend reflects a cultural hunger for joy, creativity, and personal expression—unrestricted and unapologetic.